"RETAKING THE SHIP"
Posted by: prophetic <prophetic@...>
has agreed to be one of the speakers at our "Gathering" in
Kansas City over Independence weekend (July 3-4). This
will be a free OUTDOOR conference with no registration
fee. It may even become a "Council of War". We have
booked a band gazebo in a beautiful park in Blue Springs
for the whole two days and we have a permit to use it for
this purpose. The park is easy to find and close to many
inexpensive hotels and motels. So the "Gathering" is
definitely on! If you are someone who is asking "What can
be done?" about the state of Christianity today, and if you
are making plans right now for summer, you may like to
pencil this in for Independence Weekend. Please hold any
questions until next week if you can. I will be making a
more detailed announcement at that time. Below is Bryan's
article on "Retaking the Ship". -God bless! -Andrew Strom.
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From: "Bryan Hupperts" <deepsheep@sheeptrax.com>
"Retaking The Ship"
-Bryan Hupperts (May 12, 2004).
I dreamed I was aboard a luxury liner, the good ship
Christendom, converted curiously enough from a battleship,
cruising blissfully through a lazy blue ocean. The cruise ads
had promised clear skies, a great time, fun entertainment
with some of the greatest speakers and singers of our time,
and feast upon feast of a vast array of culinary delicacies
from around the globe.
For some odd reason I had the impression this was supposed
to be a family cruise but the wealthiest were atop in the
luxury suites, quite isolated and protected from the rest of us
who were secured in various levels of the ship each according
to our rank of importance and wealth. Somehow, it didn't feel
right.
Aside from a growing uneasiness that something wasn't
quite right on this vast cruise ship, I was enjoying myself
listening to great teachers and wonderful singers all the
while surrounded by a few close friends.
One night, as I climbed into my bunk, I felt the ship begin
to rock. It was a gentle rocking but soon the ship was
tossing and heaving like a fish needing air. People were
being thrown out of their bunks and began scrambling to
get to the decks. Were we sinking?
I staggered like a drunken man up the stairs to see a sight
unthinkable. The deck was rocking violently and everything
that could be shaken was being shaken. Baggage and
luxuries were being thrown overboard by the cresting of the
waves and it seemed the ship would split into timbers. And
through the swirling fog I saw what looked like another ship:
a pirate ship?
We were being boarded and overtaken. It happened so fast
there was almost no resistance. Some from the upper decks
were shouting, "You cannot do this. We are the lords of this
voyage." And a shrouded figure I took for the Captain of the
attacking vessel stepped out of the shadows and replied
simply; "It is not to be so among you for there is only one Lord."
Within a few minutes many of the passengers and crew
were in chains for not having "lawfully boarded," while the
rest of us were ordered to different decks. The whole ship
was in ordered turmoil as everyone aboard was assigned
a new place. A man named Mr. Prophet, who had been in
irons for most of the voyage for "Speaking Mutiny" against
the now deposed former Captain who ironically wore his
same chains, was summarily released and placed into the
watchtower to be the eyes of the ship.
A woman named Mrs. Intercessor who was serving in the
galley as a lowly cook was sent to the deepest hole in the
ship. I wondered about her punishment and asked one of
the shining soldiers why this was so. He smiled and said,
"She is close to the Captain's heart and needs the silence
to be alone with him to hear his heart clearly. She has
cried out to be released into this 'punishment' for many
years. It is a station of great honor."
Others tried to use their former rank to demand an audience
with the Captain but he ignored their swagger and boasts
seeming instead drawn to the meek and lowly of heart,
giving no regard to a person's rank or status.
The ship's powerful self-propelling engines were unbolted and
dropped like useless, dead weights into the forgetfulness of
the ocean! A mast went up and in a moment, she was
transformed from running under her own power back into a
sailing ship. Her ancient armory that had been locked tight
was opened anew and her weapons were remounted
transforming her into both a sailing ship and a warship. Many
of the singers quit entertaining and began to offer up worship
on the warship. An order was given to the speakers, "Quit
merely speaking and teach by example. To your labor stations!"
Some who had beaten their fellow passengers during the
voyage were publicly humiliated as a quick trial took place.
Those who had abused their fellow passengers were allowed
to remain on the ship and surprisingly were treated as
guests of the Captain, but even what they had was taken
away from them. There was a fast redistribution of wealth
and duty as everyone was released into a place that
somehow suddenly felt "right." We were no more divided
into passengers and crew, but all simply crewmembers,
fellow shipmates united under one Captain.
The Captain assembled the whole ship's company and,
while holding a bottle of new wine in his hand, spoke quickly.
"I come to liberate, not enslave! I have come to reclaim what
is mine by birthright. I have retaken this ship that the pirates
stole from me. She is no more christened The Christendom,
but her true name, the good ship Salvation!"
He broke the bottle of new wine over her bow. "All who will
may board her freely for the price to sail has been paid in full.
We set sail for my Father's kingdom. Rebels and mutineers,
beware! Your day of retribution draws swiftly near. Behold,
I come quickly!"
A cheer went up from the crew as the sails were hoisted and
a sudden wind from the deepest Heaven began to blow,
propelling her towards an unseen land. My last sight was
seeing her proper Captain at the wheel with his joyous face
yet set like flint for the voyage to come. I sensed troubled
waters of tribulation brewing and knew that only with the true
Captain at the helm would we safely reach our destination.
-Bryan Hupperts © 2004.
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